EP0444839B1 - Videosignalübertragungssystem und -verfahren zur Kodierung von Videosignalen - Google Patents

Videosignalübertragungssystem und -verfahren zur Kodierung von Videosignalen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0444839B1
EP0444839B1 EP91301467A EP91301467A EP0444839B1 EP 0444839 B1 EP0444839 B1 EP 0444839B1 EP 91301467 A EP91301467 A EP 91301467A EP 91301467 A EP91301467 A EP 91301467A EP 0444839 B1 EP0444839 B1 EP 0444839B1
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Prior art keywords
data
picture data
transmission
picture
quantization
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EP91301467A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0444839A2 (de
EP0444839A3 (de
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Katsumi Tahara
Seiichi Emoto
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Sony Corp
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Sony Corp
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Priority claimed from JP2044846A external-priority patent/JPH03247191A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2047521A external-priority patent/JPH03250811A/ja
Priority claimed from JP04753190A external-priority patent/JP3154254B2/ja
Application filed by Sony Corp filed Critical Sony Corp
Priority to EP96110477A priority Critical patent/EP0739143B1/de
Priority to EP96110475A priority patent/EP0739142B1/de
Publication of EP0444839A2 publication Critical patent/EP0444839A2/de
Publication of EP0444839A3 publication Critical patent/EP0444839A3/xx
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    • H04N19/50—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding
    • H04N19/587—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving temporal sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. decimation or subsequent interpolation of pictures in a video sequence
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    • H04N19/91—Entropy coding, e.g. variable length coding [VLC] or arithmetic coding

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a video signal transmission system, and more particularly is suitably applied to a case in which video signals are transformed to high efficiency coded data and are then transmitted, for example.
  • pictures PC1, PC2, PC3, ... are compressed in such a manner that differences are determined by comparing pixel data with a predetermined reference value.
  • picture data of each picture PC1, PC2, PC3 , ... is transmitted at an amount of data compressed using the autocorrelation between pixel data in the same frame.
  • the coding of such picture signals is achieved by a picture data generating system 1 having a configuration shown in FIG. 2.
  • the picture data generating system 1 performs processing operations, such as every other field dropping and every other field line dropping, on input video signals VD in a preprocessing circuit 2. Subsequently, the luminance signals and chrominance signals thereof are transformed to transmission unit block (referred to as macro block) data S11 which is 16 pixels (horizontal) x 16 pixels (vertical) data, and are then fed to a picture data coding circuit 3.
  • macro block transmission unit block
  • the picture data coding circuit 3 accepts predicted current frame data S12 constructed in a prediction coding circuit 4, and determines the difference between the predicted current frame data S12 and the macro block data S11 to produce inter coded data (this is referred to as inter coding mode) or the difference between the macro block data S11 and the reference data to generate intra coded data. This data is fed to a transform coding circuit 5 as differential data S13.
  • the transform coding circuit 5 consists of a discrete cosine transform circuit and provides transform coded data S14, high efficiency coded by orthogonal transforming the differential data S13, to a quantizer 6, which sends quantized picture data S15.
  • the quantized picture data S15 thus obtained from the quantizer 6 is high efficiency coded again in a retransform coding circuit 7 which includes a variable length coding circuit and is then fed as transmission picture data S16 to a transmission buffer memory 8.
  • the picture data of the picture PC1 is firstly provided as macro block data S11 at the time t1 in FIG. 1.
  • the picture data coding circuit 3 is placed in the intra coding mode, and provides this data as intra coded differential data S13 to the transform coding circuit 5.
  • transmission picture data S16 is fed to the transmission buffer memory 8 through the quantizer 6 and the retransform coding circuit 7.
  • the quantized picture data S15 obtained at the output of the quantizer 6 is prediction coded in the prediction coding circuit 4, and thereby predicted previous frame data which represents the transmission picture data S16 sent to the transmission buffer memory 8 is held in the previous frame memory.
  • macro block data S11 which represents the picture PC2 at the time t2 is fed to the picture data coding circuit 3
  • the predicted previous frame data is motion compensated to produce the predicted current frame data S12, which is provided to the picture data coding circuit 3.
  • the differential data which represents changes in picture between the frames is sent as transmission picture data S16 to the transmission buffer memory 8 while the quantized picture data S15 thereof is provided to the prediction coding circuit 4 to thereby construct and store predicted previous frame data in the prediction coding circuit 4.
  • the transmission buffer memory 8 accumulates transmission picture data S16 which has been reached in this manner, and successively sends the accumulated transmission picture data S16 as transmission data D TRANS to a transmission line 9 at a data transmission rate which is determined according to the transmission capacity of the transmission line 9.
  • the transmission buffer memory 8 detects the amount of residual data to feed back residual amount data S17, which changes according to the amount of the residual data, to the quantizer 6, and thereby the quantization step size is controlled according to the residual amount data S17 to regulate the amount of data generated as the transmission picture data S16, so that an appropriate amount of the residual data (not to produce overflow or underflow) is kept in the transmission buffer memory 8.
  • the residual amount data S17 controls the step size of the quantization step STPS of the quantizer 6 to a smaller value, and thus the amount of generation of data of the transmission picture data S16 is increased by executing fine quantization in the quantizer 6.
  • an evaluation function is detected stepwise by a motion vector detection circuit with reference to a picture of a predetermined frame (hereinafter referred to as reference frame).
  • the picture of the reference frame is shifted by the motion vector to produce a comparison reference picture, and then detects differential data between that comparison reference picture and the picture to be transmitted.
  • the differential data is transmitted together with the motion vector.
  • the reference frame picture previously transmitted is moved by the motion vector sent, and then the differential data sent is added to reconstruct the original picture.
  • the transmission buffer memory 8 is, as described, provided as means for transmitting significant picture information while matched to a transmission condition in which the data transmission rate of the transmission data D TRANS is limited according to the transmission capacity of the transmission line 9, and thereby picture data is accumulated in the transmission buffer memory so that the picture data of the transmission capacity of the transmission line 9 may be sent without excess or deficiency.
  • the transmission buffer memory 8 overflows when the amount of picture data generated in the picture data generating system 1 becomes extremely large.
  • one frame of a picture is divided to a plurality of regions (hereinafter referred to as macro blocks) and a motion vector is detected for each macro block.
  • the picture of a reference frame is sequentially moved relatively to each macro block, and thereby a shift position (which provides the motion vector) where the differential data is the smallest in amount is detected.
  • the picture of the reference frame is further moved to the detected shift position to detect picture data of a region which corresponds to the macro block, and thereby picture data of a comparison reference for detection of differential data is produced.
  • the differential data is detected for each macro block, and is then sent after discrete cosine transformation, quantization, variable length coding.
  • a picture of the reference frame is necessary for an inter coding processing to decode the original picture data.
  • an immediately previous frame for example, is selected as the reference frame, and picture data intra coded is sent in place of differential data inter coded for each predetermined frame.
  • the intra coding is a processing to code picture data at a high efficiency using a correlation in the frame and is inferior in transmission efficiency of picture data to the inter coding processing but the original picture can be reconstructed by only the picture data sent.
  • the original picture data can be reconstructed on the basis of the differential data transmitted if the immediately previous frame is intra coded, and if with that frame selected as the reference frame, picture data of the subsequent frame is inter coded.
  • picture data of the subsequent frame can be also reconstructed.
  • the line is connected after the coding of picture data is commenced.
  • inter coding may be repeated just after the line is connected. In this case, any correct picture cannot be reconstructed at the receiving end until picture data intra coded is sent.
  • an object of this invention is to provide a video signal transmission system which prevents an excessively large amount of quantized data from being produced by determining the quantization step size according to the format of picture data to be quantized.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a video signal transmission system which is capable of enhancing facility as compared to the prior art by effectively avoiding unnatural display pictures.
  • a video signal coding method in which individual frames of video signals are selectively intra and inter coded and are then quantized for transforming to picture data;
  • a video signal coding system comprising:
  • the quantization step size is enlarged. In this manner, it is possible to effectively restrain the amount of picture data generated by the quantization from becoming excessively large.
  • the power of picture data in an inter coded format is calculated and when said power is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, said picture date in an inter coded format is adaptively quantized with one of a plurality of quantization step sizes varying from fine to rough quantization levels and, when said power is larger than the predetermined threshold value, said picture data in an inter coded format is quantized with one of said quantization step size having a predetermined rough quantization level.
  • the system operates according to a method comprising:
  • the quantization control unit 36 executes the quantization step size determining routine RT0, shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, on each macro block MB, and thereby a quantization step size QNT is selected to adapt to a format of picture data of the macro block MB to be currently processed (referred to as macro block type) to feed as the quantization step size control signal S38 to the quantizer 37.
  • the quantizer 37 is controlled not to produce disturbance of the picture according to the type of macro blocks.
  • the quantization control unit 36 performs an adaptive control in response to the macro block type "Macro Block Type" so that the data residual amount "Buffer” of the transmission buffer memory 32 falls within the variable control range of the quantization step size QNT, that is, the range of the quantization size controllable range QCR.
  • the transmission buffer memory 32 feeds back the residual amount data S32 representing data residual amount "Buffer" to the quantization control unit 36, and thereby the transmission buffer memory 32 is controlled not to overflow or underflow data by changing the quantization size data QNT in the quantization of the quantizer 37.
  • the amount of data of the quantized picture data S39 is controlled to a small value by carrying out quantization of the transformation code data S35 with the rough quantization step size, and thereby the data residual amount "Buffer" of the transmission buffer memory 32 decreases.
  • the residual amount data S32 fed back from the transmission buffer memory 32 is inputted to the filter control unit 31, and thereby the filter control unit 31 judges whether or not frame dropping is executed in the unit of a field, always monitoring the data residual amount "Buffer" of the transmission buffer memory 32.
  • the filter control unit 31 judges that the transmission buffer memory 32 comes close to an overflow state at a time t 1 (FIG. 13) when the amount of generation of the transformation code data S35 increases and exceeds the upper limit (margin "Margin” + quantization size controllable range QCR) over which the data residual amount "Buffer” of the transmission buffer memory 32 is not controllable by the quantizer 37.
  • the filter control unit 31 thus sets the drop frame flag "Drop frame flag " (FIG. 8) to "1"; the drop frame flag is contained in flag data "FLAGS" of second header data HD2 of each macro block MB corresponding to one field of pixel data of the subsequent third frame FRM2. This drop frame flag is successively transferred to the third header data HD3, HD4 and HD5, and is thereby sent to the variable length coding circuit 38 and the inverse quantizer 40.
  • variable length coding circuit 38 does not send the transmission picture data S40 by not variable length coding the quantized picture data S39.
  • the threshold control unit 35 sets the drop frame flag "Drop frame flag” to "1" about every macro block MB of the second frame FRM2, and thereby the frame FRM2 is frame dropped by controlling the variable length coding circuit 38 not to send the transmission picture data S40 of every macro block MB of the frame FRM2.
  • the data residual amount "Buffer” decreases by data outputted to the transmission line 43 since the one frame of data is not inputted.
  • the inverse quantizer 40 does not inverse quantize quantized picture data S39 inputted to correspond to header data HD5 when the drop frame flag "Drop frame flag" of the header data HD5 inputted is set to "1", and thereby the voice data generator 42 is not transmitted.
  • every macro block MB of one frame of the frame FRM2 to which is indicated frame dropping is not outputted as the inverse quantization data S42, so that the data of the frame FRM2 is frame dropped from predicted previous frame data which is to be newly stored in the predicted previous frame memory 27.
  • the pixel data undergoes frame dropping through the transmission buffer memory 32 to correspond to the frame dropping of the pixel data outputted.
  • the filter control unit 31 After starting the indication of frame dropping according to the data residual amount "Buffer" of the transmission buffer memory 32, the filter control unit 31 continues to indicate the frame dropping until the data residual amount "Buffer” decreases below the desired residual value MG.
  • the frame dropping is continued even when the data residual amount "Buffer” of the transmission buffer memory 32 drops below the upper limit at time t 2 (FIG. 13).
  • the transmission buffer memory 32 detects this, and sets the drop frame flag "Drop frame flag" of header data, corresponding to the subsequent frame FRM5, to "0" after the indication of the frame dropping of every macro block MB of the frame FRM4 on which frame dropping is executed is completed.
  • variable length coding of quantized picture data S39 is restarted in the frame picture data FRM.
  • the data residual amount "Buffer" of the transmission buffer memory 32 changes depending on the amount of inputted and outputted data by inputting data from the transmission picture data S40 of this frame FRM5 to the transmission buffer memory 32 again.
  • the transmission buffer memory 32 resets the drop frame flag "Drop frame flag” which corresponds to every macro block MB in the unit of a frame to "0" unless the data residual amount "Buffer” exceeds the upper limit again, so that transmission picture data S40 is inputted to the transmission buffer memory 32 and the data residual amount "Buffer” changes accordingly.

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Claims (8)

  1. Verfahren zur Codierung von Videosignalen, bei welchem einzelne Einzelbilder von Videosignalen selektiv intra- und intercodiert (28, 29, 30) werden und dann zur Umformung in Bilddaten quantisiert (37) werden; wobei
    Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format adaptiv mit einem einer Vielzahl von Quantisierungsschritten quantisiert werden und die Quantisierungspegel zwischen feinen und groben Quantisierungspegeln schwanken;
    und welches dadurch gekennzeichnet ist,
    daß die Bilddaten in einem intracodierten Format mit einer vorgegebenen einen der Quantisierungsschrittgrößen mit einem vorgegebenen groben Quantisierungspegel quantisiert werden.
  2. Verfahren zur Codierung von Videosignalen nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem
    die Stärke der Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format berechnet wird (34) und wenn die Stärke kleiner als ein vorgegebener Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format mit einer Quantisierungsschrittgröße quantisiert werden, welche um einen vorgegebenen Quotienten der Quantisierungsschrittgröße eines vorherigen Einzelbildes der Bilddaten reduziert ist.
  3. Verfahren zur Codierung von Videosignalen nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei welchem
    die Stärke der Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format berechnet wird (34) und wenn die Stärke kleiner als ein vorgegebener Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format adaptiv mit einer einer Vielzahl von Quantisierungsschrittgrößen quantisiert werden, welche von feinen bis zu groben Quantisierungspegeln variieren, und wenn die Stärke größer als der vorgegebene Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format mit einer der Quantisierungsschrittgrößen mit einem vorgegebenen groben Quantifizierungspegel quantisiert werden.
  4. Verfahren zur Codierung von Videosignalen nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, welches weiterhin umfaßt:
    eine vorübergehende Speicherung der Übertragungsbilddaten, welche hocheffizient in einer Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) codiert worden sind, und aufeinanderfolgendes Ausgeben der Übertragungsbilddaten an eine Übertragungsleitung (43) entsprechend einer Datenübertragungskapazität der Übertragungsleitung (43);
    wobei Einzelbilder der in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) zu speichernden Übertragungsbilddaten fallen gelassen werden, wenn ein Betrag der Restdaten in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) einen vorgegebenen oberen Grenzwert überschreitet;
    das Fortfahren mit dem Fallenlassen der Einzelbilder bis der Betrag der Restdaten in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) sich auf einen vorgegebenen Pegel, welcher kleiner als der vorgegebene obere Grenzwert ist, verringert hat.
  5. Codierungssystem (21) für Videosignale, welches umfaßt:
    Mittel (28, 29 30) zur selektiven Intra- und Intercodierung und anschließender Quantisierung (37) einzelner Einzelbilder von Videosignalen zur Übertragung von Bilddaten; wobei die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format adaptiv mit einem einer Vielzahl von Quantisierungsschritten quantisiert werden und sich die Quantisierungspegel zwischen feinen und groben Quantisierungspegeln erstrecken; und
    welches dadurch gekennzeichnet ist,
    daß Bilddaten in einem intracodierten Format mit einer vorgegebenen einen der Quantisierungsschrittgrößen mit einem vorgegebenen groben Quantisierungspegel quantisiert werden.
  6. Codierungssystem (21) für Videosignale nach Anspruch 5, welches umfaßt:
    Mittel (34) zur Berechnung der Stärke der Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format, wobei, wenn die Stärke kleiner als ein vorgegebener Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format mit einer Quantisierungsschrittgröße quantisiert werden, welche um einen vorgegebenen Quotienten der Quantisierungsschrittgröße eines vorherigen Einzelbildes der Bilddaten verringert ist.
  7. Codierungssystem für Videosignale nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, welches umfaßt:
    Mittel (34) zur Berechnung der Stärke der Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format, wobei, wenn die Stärke kleiner als ein vorgegebener Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format adaptiv mit einer einer Vielzahl von Quantisierungsschrittgrößen, welche von feinen bis zu groben Quantisierungspegeln variieren, quantisiert werden, und wenn die Stärke größer als der vorgegebene Schwellenwert ist, die Bilddaten in einem intercodierten Format mit einer der Quantisierungsschrittgrößen mit einem vorgegebenen groben Quantisierungspegel quantisiert werden.
  8. Codierungssystem für Videosignale nach Anspruch 5, 6 oder 7, welches weiterhin umfaßt:
    eine Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) zur vorübergehenden Speicherung der Übertragungsbilddaten, welche hocheffizient codiert worden sind, und zum aufeinanderfolgenden Ausgeben der Übertragungsdaten an die Übertragungsleitung (43) entsprechend einer Datenübertragungskapazität der Übertragungsleitung (43); und
    Mittel zum Fallenlassen von Einzelbilder der in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) zu speichernden Übertragungsbilddaten, wenn ein Betrag der Restdaten in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) einen vorgegebenen oberen Grenzwert überschreitet; wobei
    die Mittel zum Fallenlassen von Einzelbilder mit dem Fallenlassen der Einzelbilder fortfahren bis der Betrag der Restdaten in der Übertragungspufferspeicherschaltung (32) sich auf einen vorgegebenen Pegel, welcher kleiner als der vorgegebene obere Grenzwert ist, verringert hat.
EP91301467A 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 Videosignalübertragungssystem und -verfahren zur Kodierung von Videosignalen Expired - Lifetime EP0444839B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96110477A EP0739143B1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 System und Methode zur Kodierung von Videosignalen
EP96110475A EP0739142B1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 System und Methode zum Kodieren von Videosignalen

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP44846/90 1990-02-26
JP2044846A JPH03247191A (ja) 1990-02-26 1990-02-26 映像信号符号化方法
JP2047521A JPH03250811A (ja) 1990-02-28 1990-02-28 フイルタ回路
JP47521/90 1990-02-28
JP04753190A JP3154254B2 (ja) 1990-02-28 1990-02-28 画像データ符号化装置
JP47531/90 1990-02-28

Related Child Applications (2)

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EP96110475A Division EP0739142B1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 System und Methode zum Kodieren von Videosignalen
EP96110477A Division EP0739143B1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 System und Methode zur Kodierung von Videosignalen

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EP0444839A2 EP0444839A2 (de) 1991-09-04
EP0444839A3 EP0444839A3 (de) 1994-02-09
EP0444839B1 true EP0444839B1 (de) 1998-09-02

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EP96110475A Expired - Lifetime EP0739142B1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-02-25 System und Methode zum Kodieren von Videosignalen
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DE69130076T2 (de) 1999-04-29
DE69132646T2 (de) 2002-04-25
DE69132646D1 (de) 2001-08-02
EP0444839A2 (de) 1991-09-04
US5164828A (en) 1992-11-17
EP0739142A2 (de) 1996-10-23
DE69133024T2 (de) 2003-02-06
EP0739143B1 (de) 2002-05-29
DE69133024D1 (de) 2002-07-04
EP0739142A3 (de) 1996-12-18
EP0444839A3 (de) 1994-02-09
DE69130076D1 (de) 1998-10-08
EP0739142B1 (de) 2001-06-27
EP0739143A3 (de) 1996-12-18
KR100248692B1 (ko) 2000-03-15
EP0739143A2 (de) 1996-10-23

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